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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
O'Connor delighted as Ireland bounce back to end Summer Series in winning fashion
Robyn O'Connor was delighted with how Ireland bounced back to end their 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series in winning fashion. Braces from O'Connor and skipper Jane Neill – who won the Player of the Match award – and further tries from Alma Atagamen, Emily Foley, Sophie Barrett, Tara O'Neill, Aoibhe O'Flynn and Saoirse Crowe secured a comprehensive 62-7 victory over Scotland. It marked a return to winning ways after losing 41-12 to France on Matchday 2 having kicked off the competition in Caerphilly with a 27-10 triumph over Wales, and O'Connor expressed her happiness that her team was able to do that. She said: 'The team is very excited and proud of how we performed today. In comparison to the loss last week, we really came on and we tidied up the little bits that we needed to get better. We're all feeling great about that.' With the score 19-7 at half-time, Ireland scored 43 unanswered points in the second half with O'Connor securing 10 of those thanks to her two tries four minutes apart just after the hour mark. But the winger was quick to highlight the importance of her teammates for her individual success against the Scots and praised how the squad had gelled over the past two weeks. 'I was very happy with how I performed, but huge credit to the rest of the girls who were able to create space for me and get the ball to me,' she continued. 'I'm very proud of this team. We only came together at the beginning of this year, and we've become so close over the past two weeks here in Cardiff. We've really grown together as a team and that showed during this performance.' Ireland finished the competition alongside England, who also won two games, and were visibly ecstatic to round off their time in Wales with a win, and O'Connor said the team were going to enjoy the occasion, starting with a first cap presentation. She added: 'First off, we have to give Sally her new cap because she's a first capper, so we're going to celebrate her first appearance. Then we'll go for dinner and carry on enjoying ourselves.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hard work paid off says captain Roboam as France go unbeaten
France captain Lou Roboam said her team's hard work had paid off after they finished the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series as the only team with a 100 per cent record. After beating Italy 46-5 on Matchday 1 and Ireland 41-12 last Friday, Les Bleuettes downed England 52-39 in Caerphilly to complete a clean sweep of victories. Doubles from Faustine Piscicelli and Elina Folituu and further scores from Mailys Borak, Anaick Konyi, Zoe Jean and Julie Espinosa made sure France took the spoils in the battle between the two unbeaten sides. She said: 'We have had a really good Summer Series. We've worked incredibly hard and winning all our matches feels great. And to beat the English too, that makes me feel really good and very proud.' It was an entertaining encounter in the competition's final match, and although France had their noses in front from the 18th minute onwards, England refused to lie down. The young Red Roses scored six tries of their own through Amelia MacDougall, Grace Clifford, Lucie Sams, captain Lucy Calladine, Sophie McQueen and Zara Green. Roboam was always expecting their opponents to come at them as the two unbeaten teams competed against each other in South Wales. 'Our goal was to stick to the game plan and that's what we did,' she continued. 'The English team was a very good team and that's why we're even more proud to have won the game.' This has been the second incarnation of the Women's Summer Series, a tournament designed to give U20s players the opportunity to play more competitive rugby to help with their development. France won all three of their games in 2024 to go with this year's trio of triumphs and Roboam was grateful that her and her contemporaries had been given a platform to show what they could do. She added: 'Obviously, games like this are really important, and it gives an opportunity to players to be seen and to hopefully be able to go to the next level.'France captain Lou Roboam said her team's hard work had paid off after they finished the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series as the only team with a 100 per cent record. After beating Italy 46-5 on Matchday 1 and Ireland 41-12 last Friday, Les Bleuettes downed England 52-39 in Caerphilly to complete a clean sweep of victories. Doubles from Faustine Piscicelli and Elina Folituu and further scores from Mailys Borak, Anaick Konyi, Zoe Jean and Julie Espinosa made sure France took the spoils in the battle between the two unbeaten sides. She said: 'We have had a really good Summer Series. We've worked incredibly hard and winning all our matches feels great. And to beat the English too, that makes me feel really good and very proud.' It was an entertaining encounter in the competition's final match, and although France had their noses in front from the 18th minute onwards, England refused to lie down. The young Red Roses scored six tries of their own through Amelia MacDougall, Grace Clifford, Lucie Sams, captain Lucy Calladine, Sophie McQueen and Zara Green. Roboam was always expecting their opponents to come at them as the two unbeaten teams competed against each other in South wales. 'Our goal was to stick to the game plan and that's what we did,' she continued. 'The English team was a very good team and that's why we're even more proud to have won the game.' This has been the second incarnation of the Women's Summer Series, a tournament designed to give U20s players the opportunity to play more competitive rugby to help with their development. France won all three of their games in 2024 to go with this year's trio of triumphs and Roboam was grateful that her and her contemporaries had been given a platform to show what they could do. She added: 'Obviously, games like this are really important, and it gives an opportunity to players to be seen and to hopefully be able to go to the next level.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
France down rivals England to finish with 100% Women's Summer Series record
France finished the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series as the only team with a 100% record after downing England 52-39 in the competition's final match. Doubles from Faustine Piscicelli and Elina Folituu and further scores from Mailys Borak, Anaick Konyi, Zoe Jean and Julie Espinosa made sure France took the spoils in the battle between the two unbeaten sides. England, who had beaten Scotland and Italy in their first two games, gave as good as they got, scoring six tries of their own through Amelia MacDougall, Grace Clifford, Lucie Sams, captain Lucy Calladine, Sophie McQueen and Zara Green, but ultimately couldn't find an answer to the questions their opponents posed to them. France made a blistering start to the encounter as Borak crashed over after just three minutes, with Pauline Barrat adding the extras. Going behind sparked England into life and they were level 10 minutes later when MacDougall beautifully peeled off the back of a ruck, catching the French defence off-guard to dot down. Les Bleuettes got themselves back in front halfway through the first half as Piscicelli's dominant run allowed her to dash over England's tryline. Ella Cromack's penalty brought her side to within four points with a classy kick, but the U20 Red Roses were powerless to stop Konyi storm down the left wing to register France's third try. England responded with a period of sustained pressure which proved fruitful as Clifford scored from close range to reduce their deficit to six. Espinosa's yellow card seemingly didn't help the French cause but despite being down to 14 players, they extended their lead through Jean's try when the clock was in the red at the end of the first half. Sams gave England the perfect start after the break, burrowing over after multiple waves of attack on 43 minutes, but Folituu's close-range score three minutes later put France back in the ascendency. England would not lie down, however, retaliating almost immediately as skipper Calladine profited from England's forwards using their physicality to push France back. However, England ceded momentum back to their opponents as Espinosa made up for her earlier sin bin by opportunistically scoring in the left corner. Piscicelli's timely interception allowed her to bag a second try on the hour mark and with England down to 14 due to Millie David's yellow card on 68 minutes, France had the game under control. McQueen hit back when she crossed over, but Folituu's late second score capped a fine French victory despite Green rounding off the scoring for England in added time.
South China Morning Post
12-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's hard-won spot in Rugby World Cup is a dream come true
Hong Kong is famous for rugby because of the enduring appeal of the iconic Sevens tournament , which attracted more than 110,000 fans this year. But excitement is now being generated by the city's performance in the more traditional 15-a-side game. Hong Kong has qualified for the men's Rugby World Cup for the first time . It is a big achievement. Advertisement Hong Kong produced an impressive display in the Asia Rugby Championship, winning all three matches comfortably. Qualification for the World Cup in 2027 was sealed this month with a 70-22 victory over South Korea. The team narrowly missed out on reaching the Rugby World Cup, the pinnacle of the sport, in 2018 and 2022 . This time, with the tournament expanded to 24 teams, the long-awaited objective has been reached. Hong Kong does not often feature in major global tournaments for team sports. The women's rugby team made the World Cup in 2017 and the men's cricket team has twice progressed to the T20 World Cup. Preparations must now begin for the Men's Rugby World Cup to be held in Australia in October and November 2027. Hong Kong's players, ranked 23rd globally, will need to be at their best. They will be performing on rugby's biggest stage. The last world cup in France in 2023 drew 2.5 million spectators and 1.3 billion viewing hours for broadcasts around the world. There were 425,000 international visitors. Hong Kong's presence among the elite at the world tournament should give a substantial lift to the game locally, encouraging more to take up the sport and attend matches. There is much potential to draw visitors to the city. It comes as the shorter – sevens – form of rugby has seen a disappointing reduction in the number of top teams competing in the elite global series, although it will feature in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The Hong Kong 15s team and all those involved in helping it qualify for the Men's Rugby World Cup deserve credit and congratulations. They have worked extremely hard to make the dream come true. Now, they should receive full support as they look to do the city proud in 2027. Advertisement
